Spring 2013 report for donors of the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews

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A New ChApter BegiNs

ASSOCIATION OF THE JEWISH HISTORICAL INSTITUTE OF POLAND

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A10 N INTERNATIONALTHE NEW YORK TIMES FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

nation’s victim status after a his-tory of centuries of conquest, par-tition and occupation.

Among civic leaders here thereis a strong sense that Poland willnever fully recover from its 20th-century traumas until it recog-nizes its Jewish past, and the mu-seum is seen as a major step.“Jewish memory is becomingpart of Polish memory,” the chiefrabbi, Michael Schudrich, said inan interview at the new Museumof the History of Polish Jews,“and the building we’re sitting inis the best example of that.”

About 3.3 million Jews lived inPoland at the outbreak of WorldWar II. The last census showed amere 7,508 people identifyingthemselves as Jews in 2011, andthat was a leap from the 1,133 whosaid they were Jews in 2002.

Clad in glass panels on the out-side, the museum has a curvedpassageway inside that runsfrom front to back, almost like anatural canyon, which the build-ing’s architect has compared tothe parted Red Sea. A meticulousrecreation of the colorful paintedceiling of a wooden synagogue iscomplete, but coiled cables risefrom the bare concrete floor,waiting to be connected to themultimedia displays that haveyet to be installed.

Although it chronicles centu-ries of Jewish history in Poland,the museum was not an exclu-sively Jewish undertaking. ThePolish government, Jewishgroups and private donorsworked together to raise roughly$100 million. The city providedthe land free of charge and, alongwith the federal government,covered the construction costs.The Association of the JewishHistorical Institute of Polandraised money for the permanentexhibition, which was not readyfor this week’s soft opening butwill be ready next year.

“Economically we are not apoor country anymore,” said Wal-demar Dabrowski, the minister ofculture’s liaison to the museum.“As a society it is healthy to bemorally capable of doing such athing.”

While many significant dona-tions came from American organ-izations and individuals, Poland’srichest man, Jan Kulczyk, who isnot Jewish, gave $6.4 million last

summer. “When the Jewish na-tion and the Polish nation, whenwe are together, when we look inthe same direction, it is great forus, great for Poland and great forthe world,” said Mr. Kulczyk,whose worldwide holdings in-clude oil, real estate and beer.

It has not always been easy. Aproposal to build a monument toPoles who risked their lives tosave Jews during the Holocauston the same square has provoked

passionate opposition. Writing inthe leading newspaper, GazetaWyborcza, the Holocaust scholarBarbara Engelking said, “This isa small fragment of Warsaw thatbelongs to the Jews and thatshould not be appropriated.”

When 1,250 Warsaw highschool students were recentlyasked which group suffered morein the war, Poles or Jews, nearlyhalf, 44 percent, said the twogroups had suffered equally; 28

percent answered Jews; and 25percent said Poles.

Poles are particularly sensitiveabout the Nazis’ decision to builddeath camps on occupied Polishterritory. It was on a visit to War-saw in 1970 that Chancellor WillyBrandt of Germany dropped tohis knees in front of the Monu-ment to the Ghetto Heroes.

The large black stone andbronze monument remains amoving icon of suffering andmartyrdom. On one side, a relief

depicts women, children and theelderly trudging to their deaths.On the other stand armed fig-ures, representing the brave butdoomed fighters of the Warsawghetto uprising, which began onApril 19, 1943.

When the permanent exhibi-tion at the museum is complete, itwill tell the story of the Holo-caust, as well as the difficultchapters in Polish-Jewish rela-tions, including the murders ofcamp survivors after the war andthe Communist government’s1968 anti-Semitic campaign. Butit also covers the thousand-yearhistory of Jews in Poland, fromthe shtetls to the cities, from suc-cessful businessmen to pioneer-ing Yiddish writers.

Organizers and curators repeatthe same phrase over and overagain: “This is a museum of life.”They hope to remind visitors ofthe centrality of Jewish life to

Polish society and history.“You can’t put the pieces back

together again, but you can buildbridges,” said Barbara Kirshen-blatt-Gimblett, a Canadian-bornethnographer in charge of thepermanent exhibition. “They’refragile, but you can build them.”Her father left Poland in 1934 atthe age of 17. While working onthe project, she learned to speakPolish and acquired Polish citi-zenship last year.

Maciej Bulanda, 23, who withhis father designed the brick me-zuza holder, became interested inhis Jewish great-grandmother asa teenager, learning that she hadthree brothers who perished inthe Holocaust and even findingtwo of their graves in Lodz.

“Our parents’ generation didnot have the courage or inclina-tion or interest to find out aboutthat,” Mr. Bulanda said of thegrowing interest among youngPoles in exploring their Jewishpasts. “We were brought up in acompletely different world.”

That does not mean it is alwayseasy. The same poll that exam-ined the question of Jewish ver-sus Polish suffering found that 61percent of students said they“would be unhappy” to learn aboyfriend or girlfriend was Jew-ish, while 45 percent would rathernot have a Jew in their family.

“When you’re 7 years old andplaying football in the courtyard,in a fight you hear people usingGypsy or Jew as swear words,”Mr. Bulanda said.

After the museum announced adesign competition for the mezu-za, Mr. Bulanda brought up thepossibility of entering at the fam-ily dinner table. His father, An-drzej, an architect, had the idea ofusing a brick.

They used old maps of the cityto find where Nalewki Streetonce ran and excavated a spot inwhat is now a public park andwas once the foundation of No. 10,No. 12 or the retaining wall be-tween them.

Piotr Wislicki, chairman of theAssociation of the Jewish Histori-cal Institute, speaking to an audi-ence in the museum’s auditoriumafter the mezuza was unveiled,recalled: “When I was a little boyI was afraid to look up whensomeone said the word Jew. I hadthe urge to run. As a young man Ionly told my close friends, swear-ing them to secrecy.”

“Today,” Mr. Wislicki said, “Iam standing in front of you proudto be a Polish Jew.”

WARSAW JOURNAL

New Museum Helps Poland Rebuild a Bridge to Its Jewish Past

Michael Schudrich, above, Po-land’s chief rabbi, placing amezuza at the Museum of theHistory of Polish Jews. Left, arecreated synagogue painting.

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Honorable Donors, Dear Friends,On the front page of this photoreport you can see a curve dividing the building of our Museum. As you know, in the architect’s vision it symbolizes the crossing of the Red Sea. With the opening of the building, if you will, we have crossed our Red Sea. When we fully open the Museum, i.e. launch the Core Exhibition, we will all – including the heads of state – set foot in the Promised Land. It would not have been possible without you, dear and honorable Donors. I thank you for this from the bottom of my heart.

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Marian TurskiChairman of the Museum Council, Vice Chairman ofthe Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland

Nearly five hundred individuals from all the Jewish organizations in Poland and distinguished guests met for the first time at the Museum to celebrate its inauguration. On this occasion Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich placed the klaf and blessed the Museum’s mezuzah. It is made of an original brick excavated from the former Nalewki Street in the heart of the prewar Jewish quarter in Warsaw. (MS)(KD)

Left: Waldemar Dąbrowski, Plenipotentiary of the Minister of Culture for the Museum Opening, Dr. Jan Kulczyk, Distinguished Benefactor, Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, Program Director of the Core Exhibition, Shana Penn, Executive Director of Taube Philanthropies, Piotr Wiślicki, Chairman of the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland, Rabbi Michael Schudrich, Chief Rabbi of Poland. (MS) Right: The symbolic ceremony was covered by the New York Times (Photo: Piotr Małecki for NYT)

(FM)

Cover photo: (FM)

thThe 70 anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising commemoration began with a gala concert at the Polish National Opera. The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by maestro Zubin Mehta was accompanied by violinist Julian Rachlin, Cantor Yaakov Lemmer, and the Jewish Theatre Choir that performed the partisans anthem Zog nit keyn mol [Never say]. (PO)

A new chapter began on April 14, when the Jewishorganizations met for the first time at the Museum. Onthat special day the Chief Rabbi of Poland unveiledand blessed the mezuzah that symbolizes new beginnings and new life.On April 19, we marked the 70th anniversary of theWarsaw Ghetto Uprising. The official ceremonies atthe Monument to the Ghetto Heroes were attended bynearly 2,000 people from all over the world, includingPoland’s leaders: Bronisław Komorowski, President ofthe Republic of Poland, the Speakers of the Sejm andSenate, and Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Also presentwere the President of the European Parliament MartinSchultz and the Mayor of Warsaw Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz. Delegations from many countries as wellas members of the Jewish community, mayors andrepresentatives of European capitals also gathered atthe monument. Guests of honor included Mr. SimchaRotem, nom de guerre Kazik, one of the last livinginsurgents of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Following

the official ceremonies guests entered the Museum ofthe History of Polish Jews for a special commemorativeconcert. Performing were the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Richter String Quartet, the Sinfonia Varsovia Orchestra conducted by Krzysztof Penderecki and Henri Seroka, cantor Yaakov Lemmer and Kayah. In the evening, some four hundred distinguished guests gathered at the Polish National Opera for a Shabbat Dinner dedicated to the Museum’s donors. Prior to the dinner, the Shabbat guests listened to a piano concert by Janusz Olejniczak.On April 20, the Museum finally opened its doors tothe public. Visitors were able to admire the breathtakingarchitecture of the building and participate in awide range of cultural events: concerts, spectacles,movies, debates, lectures, meetings with the Survivorsand the Righteous.This album is an illustration of those moments for thosewho could not experience them. For all others let it bea token of remembrance of those exceptional days.

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Piotr Wiślicki, Cantor Joseph Malovany, Piotr Kadlčik, Chairman of the Union of the Jewish Communities in Poland (MS)

Distinguished Benefactors: Sigmund A. Rolat and Hon. Tad Taube (TP)

Prof. Władysław Bartoszewski, Bogdan Zdrojewski, Minister of Culture and National Heritage (MS)

Simcha “Kazik” Rotem, one of the three living Ghetto Fighters has been awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta by President of the Republic of Poland Bronisław Komorowski. (FM)

Cantor Joseph Malovany sings El Male Rachamim during the prayers at the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes. (MS)

Piotr Wiślicki, Marian Turski, Chairman to the Museum Council, and Sławomir Różański, Director of the Association JHI laid a wreath on behalf of the Donors to the Museum of the History of Polish Jews. (MS)

Simcha “Kazik” Rotem (MS)

Journalists from all over the world (FM)

Distinguished Benefactors Sigmund A. Rolat, Rick Parasol, Hon. Tad Taube with Olgierd Dziekoński, Minister at the President Chancellery (TP)

Distinguished Benefactors Victor Markowicz and Corinne Evens (BKG)

“The spiritual power of the Ghetto Uprisingcommemoration and the magnificentMuseum’s preview continue to befelt by the Taube and Koret Foundation’s40-person VIP delegation. These twohistoric events are forever intertwinedon this sacred site—symbolic of our collectivehealing and of a Jewish future inPoland. This once-in-a-lifetime experiencewill have lasting impact, as theseindividuals will continue to support theMuseum’s vital educational mission.”

Hon. Tad Taube, Taube Philanthropiesand Koret Foundation

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“Those three days were unforgettable. The Polishnation represented by its Government and itsPresident showed its respect for the courageousPolish Jews who decided how to die in a desperateand unprecedented situation. All the participantsfelt the common conviction that we will do anythingpossible to prevent such horrors from happeningagain. We will fight against any signs of actionsthat could result in such an ‘inhumanity of thehuman mistake’. We won’t allow this to happenin Europe nor anywhere in the world again.”

Corinne Evens, The European Association of the Museum of the History of Polish JewsAfter the ceremony at the Monument distinguished guests could visit the Museum. The first post’89 Prime Minister

Tadeusz Mazowiecki receiving a paper daffodil, a symbol of hope and remembrance. (MS)

Jan Chodakowski, Co-Chairman of the British Committee for the Support of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews (BKG)

From right: Shai Piron, Minister of Education of Israel, Rabbi Michael Schudrich (MS)

Right: Samuel Pisar, The European Association of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews (MS)t

From left: Pinchas Gutter, Elżbieta Jassem, Carol Randy Marrus, Michael Marrus, Peter Jassem, Joseph Gottdenker (MS)

Vilja Fussell and Hon. Tad Taube (MS)

The US Presidential Delegation - Estelle W. Laughlin, Warsaw Ghetto Survivor, Hon. Stephen D. Mull, US Ambassador to Poland (MS)

Irene Kronhill Pletka, Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in New York (FM)

“All of our guests were deeply affected by the commemorationof the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising andoverjoyed by the opening ceremony of the Museum. Numerousevents and programs that filled a week of celebrationsunderscored the principal purpose of the Museum – to cutthrough the dark veil of the Holocaust and retrieve the gloriedpast of Polish Jews for contemporary audiences. Mostimportantly, this moving experience deepened the understandingof NAC’s mission to support the Museum and renewed thecommitment of our donors to future projects. It is our hopethat private donors in Poland and abroad will join togetherwith us in support of the Museum’s activities and work tosustain it by building an endowment and securing its future.”

Sigmund A. Rolat, The North American Council of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews

From left: Prof. Władysław Bartoszewski, Bogdan Borusewicz, Senate Speaker, Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, President Bronisław Komorowski, Minister Bogdan Zdrojewski (FM)

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Guests were able to enter the construction site of the Core Exhibition to admire the remarkable painted ceiling of theGwoździec Synagogue. (FM)

Rick and Laura Brown, Handshouse Studio (MS)Eric Benhamou, Benefactor, and Jasmine Yang Benhamou (TP)

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“I’ve begun to understand the mission of theMuseum in a different context than usually- more as a bridge.”“Its importance, its scope and media coverage,awareness that it was one of the mostdiscussed topics those days... The youthdistributing the paper daffodils and leaflets...I am moved.”“During those days it was the first time inmy life, since leaving Poland in 1968, that I could “confess” without a fear to who I am.”

From letters to the Swedish Committee for the Support of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews

Distinguished Benefactors Corinne Evens, Victor Markowicz, Sigmund A. Rolat and Hon. Tad Taube with the President of the Republic of Poland Bronisław Komorowski at the concert in the Museum’s auditorium (TP)

Roman Kent. Treasurer of the Claims Conference, Distinguished Benefactor (MS)

Maria Gruber-Bień, Michał Bron, Katarzyna Gruber, Zygmunt Stępiński, Deputy Director of the Museum (FM)

Marta Prochwicz, Co-Chair of the Swedish Committee for the Support of the Museum (FM)

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A tribute to the Ghetto Fighters. The searchlights set up in front of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews and the Warsaw Rising Museum have crossed their beams in the sky over Warsaw. The two museums paid tribute to the Ghetto Fighters, who in some cases joined the Warsaw Uprising the following year. (FM)

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Guests at the concert: Piotr Wiślicki, Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Małgorzata Omilanowska, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Culture, Marian Turski, Jerzy Buzek, former President of the European Parliament, Consul Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka, Andrzej Cudak, Acting Director of the Museum (AD)

Waldemar Dąbrowski hosted the Shabbat Dinner in honor of the donors at the Polish National Opera. (AD)

From left: Sigmund A. Rolat, Victor Markowicz, Hon. Tad Taube,Jeffrey Farber, Chief Executive of the Koret Foundation, Distin-guished Benefactor (AD)

Dominika Kulczyk-Lubomirska, Jan Lubomirski-Lanckoroński. Second row from right:Elżbieta Penderecka, Michael Berkowicz, NAC Treasurer, Bonnie Berkowicz, Roman Kent (AD)

Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, Irene Kronhill Pletka, Shana Penn and Naomi Wechsler light candles to begin Shabbat. On the left: Rabbi Michael Schudrich (AD)

From left: Andrzej Wajda, Rainer Mahlamäki, architect of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Krystyna Zachwatowicz (TP)

Josef Thesing, Chairman of the German Committee for the Support of the Museum (AD)

“Both the commemoration and the Museum can be best described as world class. On April 19 Poland stood up to the occasion and remembered the Jewish tragedy with utmost respect. But through the magnificent Museum she also told the world that this tragedy was preceded by Jewish life on her land, life that flourished for centuries and that made significant contributions to world civilization.”

Peter Jassem, The Canadian Committee for the Support of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews

“A most remarkable three days, with a wealth of wonderful impressions: walking through the completed Mu-seum interiors – breathtaking archi-tecture, which drew wide admiration; the emotionally charged ceremonies, whose true hero was the man who had taken part in both uprisings – the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943 and the Warsaw Uprising of 1944.”

Jan Chodakowski, The British Committee for the Support of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews

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The Museum is a bridge between the past, present and future (MS)

On April 20th and 21st the Museum opened its doors to the public (MS)

Tourists and visitors waited in long lines and filled the square outside the Museum. (MS)

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Center: Hon. Alexandra Bugailiskis, Ambassador of Canada and MP. Ted Opitz, representing the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs (AD)

Sam and Tzipi Tramiel (TP)

From left: Jelena Nissenbaum, Gideon Nissenbaum and Beniamin Nissenbaum (AD)

From left: Alon Redlich and Maciej Witucki, CEO Orange, Distinguished Benefactor (AD)

Richard Horowitz (AD)

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Among the first visitors there were also many children. This Museum is especially for them, the future generation (MS)

The installation Tree of Dreams invited visitors to support the Museum by sharing their expectations and dreams (MS)

One of which translates as “Jews [please] return!!!”

A do-it-yourself daffodil (MS)

First users at the Resource Center in its temporary setting (MS) The family tour program was overbooked! (MS)

The support from visitors has been overwhelming (MS)

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WHAT’S NEXT?

WORLD HEADLINES

The Museum inaugurated its cultural and educa-tional activities and continues to develop its rich program offerings. More information about the program can be found at the Museum’s website in a brand-new layout.www.jewishmuseum.org.pl/en

The Core Exhibition walls and mezzaninesseparating the individual galleries and individualexhibition areas have been built. Installation andproduction of the galleries is proceeding in tandemwith the process of obtaining digital and originalmuseum artifacts supporting the exhibition narrative. For complete information on the progress of work, please visit the Association’s website.www.szih.org.pl

Marta WróbelFundraising Managing DirectorAssociation of the Jewish Historical InstituteTel: +48 22 47 10 319Cell: +48 501 221 945

[email protected]

Produced by Development Department, AJHIDesigned by Magdalena Estera Łapińska

Photo credits: Andrzej Daniluk (AD), Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett (BKG),Franek Mazur (FM), Karolina Dzięciołowska (KD),Magdalena Starowieyska (MS), Marta Wróbel (MW),Paweł Ośka – Polish National Opera (PO), Taube Philantrophies (TP).

More than 7,500 visistors flocked to the Museum on the second Open Day (MS)

The crowds came, even in the evening. The audience watching the spectacle “Memory Maps” (MS)

The cultural program is rich in educational offerings. Prof. Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett with Prof. Sam Kassow at his lecture about Emanuel Ringelblum and his underground archive. (MS)

Andrzej Rojek with family, Benefactor (MW)

The Bund Band concert. A sensational performance by the Wojtek Mazolewski Quartet (MS)

“The Survivors” - another movie premiere that weekend (MS)

Full audience during the two open screenings and the official movie premiere of “Rotem” (MS)

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15,00050,000

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2 1,5001,000year history of Polish Jews

viewers of the „Rotem” movie

movie premieres and . . .

diplomatic delegations at the anniversary and the Museum inauguration

accredited journalists

pages of press clippings from Polish media only

volunteers supported the commemoration events

paper daffodils

visitors during the first two days